Paladins received a new update resulting in significant changes for how players will receive and evolve cards in-game. Hi-Rez Stuidos claimed they made the changes based on player feedback for what they want in-game.
The update, titled Cards Unbound, unlocks all legendary and basic cards for free, allows those cards to be “leveled up by collecting duplicates,” and gives each champion a new legendary card for free as well. Cards are ranked between levels 1 and 5 and duplicate cards can be randomly obtained from card chests. The chests will be given out for free at the moment but will eventually be available for purchase with real money. In the update, Hi-Rez states:
“…There will be no way to directly purchase Radiant Chests or Champion Card Chests with Crystals; they may only be unlocked via Gold or playing the game. We expect to allow Crystal purchases of those same Card Chests in OB65, but we may delay this.”
Hi-Rez also states that the change “may be controversial, particularly given some recent questionable moves by full-price games,” most likely hinting at EA’s ongoing Star Wars Battlefront II controversy stemming from their current loot box system. Paladins players have already begun to react negatively to the change, believing the new card progression system will eventually make the game primarily pay-to-win even though it is free-to-play. The card chest progression feature is still in its testing stages, so if players continue to express disdain towards the new system Hi-Rez might have to make changes to avoid backlash.
Hi-Rez has also made changes to Paladins’ game modes by replacing Casual Queue with Quickplay Queue and making all cards and legendaries available at a set level 3 for Ranked and Competitive Play. Quickplay’s deck limitation has been changed from 12 points to 25 points, so players can use 5 cards at a time without level caps. Players who already have a large card collection can start leveling those cards from level 3 instead of level 1.
Hopefully Hi-Rez Studios will continue to acknowledge feedback regarding the update. Taking player’s opinions into account to some degree may help the company recognize changes Paladins needs and in-turn keep people happy with the game’s overall state.
Paladins is available for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.